HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades kept their playoff hopes firmly alive with a dominant 10-5 victory over UP Prometheans, while Dempo Goa Challengers extended their unbeaten run in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 with a nail-biting 8-7 win over PBG Pune Jaguars on Sunday, 19 July. Goa remain the only team yet to taste defeat in the league this season.

Kolkata Dominate UP with Ankur and Ayhika Leading the Charge

Ankur Bhattacharjee set the tone for Kolkata with a composed straight-games win over Manav Thakkar — 11-10, 11-10, 11-3 — winning successive Golden Point games before cruising through the third. Zeng Jian followed up with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Swastika Ghosh, before Ankur and Ayhika Mukherjee continued their unbeaten mixed doubles record, defeating Ricardo Walther and Swastika 2-1 to push Kolkata to the brink of victory.

UP showed resistance through Walther, who blanked Eduard Ionescu in straight games to keep the tie alive. But Ayhika closed it out emphatically, defeating Sayali Wani 3-0 (11-8, 11-10, 11-7) to seal the win. Ankur was named Match IQ Player and Indian Player of the Tie, Walther took the Foreign Player of the Tie award, and Ayhika earned the Shot of the Tie honour.

Goa Edge Pune in a Thriller — Syndrela Das the Hero

Goa's afternoon began on a difficult note as Omar Assar rallied from a game down to hand Abhinandh PB his first singles defeat of the season. Bernadette Szocs steadied the ship with a clinical straight-games win over Prithika Pavade — 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 — before Pune clawed back through the mixed doubles. Snehit Suravajjula then defeated Alvaro Robles to leave Goa needing a result in the final match.

With the tie on the line, 16-year-old Syndrela Das delivered under pressure. She took the opening game before Diya Chitale forced a deciding set. Syndrela held her nerve to win 11-8 in the decider, clinching the tie and preserving Goa's unbeaten record. Assar was named Match IQ Player, Syndrela the Indian Player of the Tie, and Szocs the Foreign Player of the Tie. Anirban claimed the Shot of the Tie award.

U Mumba TT Crowned Dream UTT Juniors Champions

Earlier in the day, U Mumba TT were crowned Dream UTT Juniors champions after defeating Dabang Delhi TTC 5-2 in the final. Somdev Sengupta laid the foundation with a boys' singles win before partnering Ahona Ray to claim the mixed doubles. Ahona then sealed the title with victory in the girls' singles, giving U Mumba their maiden Dream UTT Juniors crown.

Full Scorecards

Dempo Goa Challengers 8-7 PBG Pune Jaguars
Abhinandh PB lost to Omar Assar 1-2 (11-10, 5-11, 8-11)
Bernadette Szocs bt. Prithika Pavade 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-5)
Alvaro Robles/Syndrela Das lost to Anirban Ghosh/Diya Chitale 1-2 (10-11, 11-4, 6-11)
Alvaro Robles lost to Snehit Suravajjula 1-2 (11-2, 8-11, 10-11)
Syndrela Das bt. Diya Chitale 2-1 (11-7, 7-11, 11-8)

HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades 10-5 UP Prometheans
Ankur Bhattacharjee bt. Manav Thakkar 3-0 (11-10, 11-10, 11-3)
Zeng Jian bt. Swastika Ghosh 2-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-8)
Ankur Bhattacharjee/Ayhika Mukherjee bt. Ricardo Walther/Swastika Ghosh 2-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-8)
Eduard Ionescu lost to Ricardo Walther 0-3 (9-11, 8-11, 8-11)
Ayhika Mukherjee bt. Sayali Wani 3-0 (11-8, 11-10, 11-7)

UTT Season 7 continues to build toward a high-stakes playoff picture, with Goa's unbeaten record and Kolkata's resurgent form setting up what promises to be a compelling final stretch.